Since before the dawn of flight, Loss of Control In-Flight (LOC-I) remains by far the biggest cause of fatal accidents in aviation.

Occasionally a LOC-I event is something that can happen with no warning whatsoever however, in a large majority of cases there is ample warning, and the pilot simply does not recognise the onset, failing to take the appropriate preventative action. Understanding the consequences of inappropriate pilot inputs, “Startle & Surprise”, and undertaking training for events that may call for counter-intuitive control inputs, could make the difference in ensuring survival.

Key commercial airline accidents such as Colgan Flight 3407 and Air France 447 were the drivers for ICAO to develop DOC 10011 which provides a foundation to combat LOC-I through structured Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT). Regulators worldwide have issued guidance material on this subject and mandated training for Air Transport pilots, but NOT for General Aviation. Despite almost every UPRT symposium, workshop and conference identifying the root cause of LOC-I as inadequate abinitio and advanced flight training, the standards of the “Flight Instructor” has not kept up with the changing landscape.

The very first flight training syllabus was developed back in 1917 by Major Robert Smith-Barry (RFC) and when compared to what we teach today the structure remains very similar. Since Robert Smith-Barry prepared his pilots for WW1 we have learnt so much about how aircraft fly, Human Factors, Threat and Error Management and energy management. Why then does LOC-I remain the #1 cause of fatalities in aviation?